Method and apparatus for digital information processing

ABSTRACT

A content access method and apparatus includes decompressing an input stream read from a storage medium to produce an output signal. The output signal is then multiplexed with timing information different from the timing information contained in the input stream.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2000-005864, filed on Jan. 7, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to digital information processingtechnology for replicating digital data reproduced from an optical diskonto another optical disk, and particularly to digital informationprocessing technology for expanding compressed sound information, suchas the sound of DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) videos, the sound of videoCDs, and MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III) files, and recording the expandedsound information onto CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) withoutcompressing it.

A technology which relates to an apparatus for dubbing using digitalsignals in a compressed state is described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. Hei 11-185402 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-261265, forexample.

The above conventional technology is described as a technology forreproducing compressed sound information from a recoding medium andreplicating the information onto a MD or the like as it is. However, inthe conventional technology, no consideration is given to a means forexpanding compressed sound information, such as the sound of DVD videos,the sound of video CDs, and MP3 files, and recording the expandedinformation onto CD-R without compressing it, as well as a method forgenerating time information necessary for CD-R reproduction.

An object of the present invention is to provide digital informationprocessing technology for expanding compressed sound information, suchas the sound of DVD videos, the sound of video CDs, and MP3 files, andrecording (replicating) the expanded information onto CD-R or the likewithout compressing it.

An object of the present invention is to provide digital informationprocessing technology that allows compressed audio information, such asthe sound of a DVD video, the sound of a video CD, or an MP3 file, to beexpanded and recorded (replicated) onto a CD-R or the like withoutcompressing it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A means for achieving the above object reproduces compressed informationfrom a recording medium, expands the reproduced compressed information,extracts first time information contained in the compressed information,generates second time information by using the first time informationand the sample volume of the expanded information, multiplexes theexpanded information and the second time information, and records themultiplexed information onto a recording medium other than the aboverecording medium.

Disclosed herein is a digital information processing method comprisingthe steps of: reproducing compressed information from a recordingmedium; expanding the reproduced compressed information; extractingfirst time information included in the compressed information;generating second time information by using the first time informationand the sample volume of the expanded information; multiplexing theexpanded information and the second time information; and recording themultiplexed information onto a recording medium other than the recordingmedium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a DVD videoplayer with a built-in CD-R drive;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data composition of an MP3 file and theoperation of expansion processing;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing for generating informationrequired for recording onto a CD-R;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the processing for multiplexing informationrequired for recording onto a CD-R; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the composition of the program stream of aDVD video.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with referenceto FIG. 1. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are block diagrams of embodiments ofdigital information processing apparatus according to the presentinvention, showing the configurations necessary in order to realize thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention when time information required for expansion processing ismultiplexed in the compressed information read from a recording medium800.

First, an information reproducing means 810 reads compressed informationfrom the recording medium 800. In this compressed information, thecompressed information itself and time information required forexpansion processing are multiplexed. An information expansionprocessing means 820 expands the compressed information inputted fromthe information reproducing means 810.

In the meantime, a time information generating means 850 extractsmultiplexed time information from the compressed information inputtedfrom the information reproducing means 810.

Then the time information generating means 850 generates second timeinformation by using the sample volume of the information expanded bythe information expansion processing means 820 for interpolation basedon the time information inputted into the time information generatingmeans 850, for example. Furthermore, an information multiprocessingmeans 840 multiplexes and outputs the information expanded by theinformation expansion processing means 820 and the second timeinformation generated by the time information generating means 850.

Next, an information recording means 860 records the informationinputted from the information multiprocessing means 840 onto a recordingmedium 870. In this case, the recording medium 800 for reproduction andthe recording medium 870 for recording may be separately disposed;however, the recording medium 800 for reproduction and the recordingmedium 870 for recording may also be formed by the same recordingmedium.

In addition, the information outputted by the informationmultiprocessing means 840 can also be transmitted to other apparatus byoutputting the information via an information output means 880.

FIG. 1 exemplifies an digital information processing apparatus with aninformation recording means 860 which has the function of recordinginformation onto a recording medium 870 and the function of outputtinginformation by means of an information output means 880. However, thedigital information processing apparatus can also be configured as theone which does not have an information output means 880 but has aninformation recording means 860 to perform only the function ofrecording information onto a recording medium 870, or configured as theone which does not have an information recording means 860 but has onlythe function of outputting information by means of an information outputmeans 880.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention when time information required for expansion processing is notmultiplexed in the compressed information read from a recording medium800.

An information reproducing means 810 reads compressed information fromthe recording medium 800. The compressed information consists only ofthe compressed information. An information expansion processing means820 expands and outputs the compressed information.

In the meantime, a time information generating means 850 generates andoutputs time information after measuring the sample volume of theinformation expanded by the information expansion processing means 820.

Then an information multiprocessing means 840 multiplexes and outputsthe information expanded by the information expansion processing means820 and the time information generated by the time informationgenerating means 850.

Next, an information recording means 860 records the informationinputted from the information multiprocessing means 840 onto a recordingmedium 870. In this case, the recording medium 800 for reproduction andthe recording medium 870 for recording may be separately disposed;however, the recording medium 800 for reproduction and the recordingmedium 870 for recording may also be formed by the same recordingmedium.

In addition, the information outputted by the informationmultiprocessing means 840 can also be transmitted to other apparatus byoutputting the information via an information output means 880.

FIG. 2 exemplifies an digital information processing apparatus with aninformation recording means 860 which has the function of recordinginformation onto a recording medium 870 and the function of outputtinginformation by means of an information output means 880. However, thedigital information processing apparatus can also be configured as theone which does not have an information output means 880 but has aninformation recording means 860 to perform only the function ofrecording information onto a recording medium 870, or configured as theone which does not have an information recording means 860 but has onlythe function of outputting information by means of an information outputmeans 880.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of digital information processing apparatus,showing the configuration necessary in order to realize the presentinvention when time information is generated by using theinformation-decoding unit volume of the compressed informationreproduced by an information reproducing means 810.

An information reproducing means 810 reads compressed information from arecording medium 800. The compressed information consists only of thecompressed information. An information expansion processing means 820expands and outputs the compressed information.

In the meantime, a time information generating means 850 generates andoutputs time information after measuring the information-decoding unitvolume of the compressed information reproduced by the informationreproducing means 810.

Here, the sample volume per unit of information decoding after expansionprocessing can be determined by analyzing part of the compressedinformation, so that time information can be generated by measuring theinformation-decoding unit volume of the compressed information.

Then an information multiprocessing means 840 multiplexes and outputsthe information expanded by the information expansion processing means820 and the time information generated by the time informationgenerating means 850.

Next, an information recording means 860 records the informationinputted from the information multiprocessing means 840 onto a recordingmedium 870. In this case, the recording medium 800 for reproduction andthe recording medium 870 for recording may be separately disposed;however, the recording medium 800 for reproduction and the recordingmedium 870 for recording may also be formed by the same recordingmedium.

In addition, the information outputted by the informationmultiprocessing means 840 can also be transmitted to other apparatus byoutputting the information via an information output means 880.

FIG. 3 exemplifies an digital information processing apparatus with aninformation recording means 860 which has the function of recordinginformation onto a recording medium 870 and the function of outputtinginformation by means of an information output means 880. However, thedigital information processing apparatus can also be configured as theone which does not have an information output means 880 but has aninformation recording means 860 to perform only the function ofrecording information onto a recording medium 870, or configured as theone which does not have an information recording means 860 but has onlythe function of outputting information by means of an information outputmeans 880.

Next, an application of the present invention to a DVD video player witha built-in CD-R drive will be described.

FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of a DVD video player with abuilt-in CD-R drive.

The recording medium 800 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 corresponds to aoptical disk that can be reproduced by a DVD-ROM drive 190; theinformation reproducing means 810 corresponds to a DVD-ROM drive 190;the information expansion processing means 820 and the time informationextracting means 830 correspond to an MPEG2 decoder 210; the informationmultiprocessing means 840 and the time information generating means 850correspond to a microcomputer 110; the information recording means 860corresponds to a CD-R drive 200; and the information output means 880corresponds to a digital audio output terminal 265.

The basic operation of a DVD video player with a built-in CD-R drive 100will now be described with reference to FIG. 4.

A DVD video player with a built-in CD-R drive 100 incorporates twodrives, that is, a DVD-ROM drive and a CD-R drive. The DVD-ROM drive 190can reproduce optical disks such as DVD videos, video CDs, CDs, CD-Rs,CD-RWs (Compact Discs ReWritable), for example. On the other hand, theCD-R drive 200 can perform recording onto optical disks such as CD-Rsand CD-RWs, as well as the reproduction of optical disks such as CDs,CD-Rs, and CD-RWs.

First the operation of DVD video reproduction by a DVD-ROM drive 190will be described.

A microcomputer 110 executes a program stored in a flash memory 160.Then the microcomputer 110 uses a memory 150 as a working memory. Thememory 150 is used as a variety of buffers as well as a memory for themicrocomputer 110 to execute a program.

The microcomputer 110 detects by means of a key 120 or aremote-controller light receiver 140 that a tray-close button for theDVD-ROM drive 190 is pressed by the user. Or the microcomputer 110detects via a drive I/F 180 that the tray of the DVD-ROM drive 190 ispushed. Then the DVD-ROM drive 190 identifies the type of disk inserted,and sends the information to the microcomputer 110 via the drive I/F180.

If the optical disk inserted into the DVD-ROM drive 190 is identified asa DVD video disk, mutual certification between the DVD-ROM drive 190 andthe DVD video disk is first performed to check for validity. Then themicrocomputer 110 reads the data of the DVD video disk from the DVD-ROMdrive 190 while controlling the drive I/F 180. In the meantime, thedrive I/F 180 extracts the program stream of the DVD video from thereproduced data, and performs DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer of theprogram stream via a system bus 170 to a stream buffer for reproductionprovided on the memory 150.

The microcomputer 110 monitors the volume of the program streamaccumulated in the stream buffer for reproduction provided on the memory150, and meanwhile transfers the program stream being accumulated to anMPEG2 decoder 210 as requested by the MPEG2 decoder 210.

The MPEG2 decoder 210 analyzes the header information of the inputtedprogram stream as well as performing decoding, and extracts thecompressed video data and audio data to transfer them to a video signalexpanding circuit and an audio signal expanding circuit within the MPEG2decoder 210.

The video signal expanding circuit within the MPEG2 decoder 210 expandsthe compressed video data. Similarly, the audio signal expanding circuitwithin the MPEG2 decoder 210 expands the compressed audio data totransfer it to a D/A converter 220.

In the program stream of the DVD video analyzed by the MPEG2 decoder210, time information, that is, PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) and DTS(Decoding Time Stamp) is attached to each of the compressed video dataand audio data. Based on the time information, the MPEG2 decoder 210controls the timing of expansion processing by the video signalexpanding circuit and the audio signal expanding circuit to synchronizethe video with the audio.

Then the MPEG2 decoder 210 outputs the expanded digital video data to adigital video encoder 240. The digital video encoder 240 outputs theinputted digital video data after converting it in CCIR 656 format, forexample, to an analog signal in NTSC format.

Similarly, the MPEG2 decoder 210 outputs the expanded digital audio datato the D/A converter 220. The D/A converter 220 outputs the inputtedaudio signal after converting it to a two-channel analog signal, forexample. An analog switch 230, operated under the control of themicrocomputer 110, selects and outputs the input signal from the D/Aconverter 220. Then, the video signal and the audio signal are outputtedvia a video output terminal 270 and an audio output terminal 260respectively to a TV connected with the DVD video player with a built-inCD-R drive 100, for example.

Next the reproducing operation of a CD, CD-R, or CD-RW by a DVD-ROMdrive 190 and a CD-R drive 200 will be described.

First a DVD-ROM drive 190 or a CD-R drive 200 identifies the type ofdisk inserted, and sends the information to a microcomputer 110 via adrive I/F 180.

When a CD, CD-R, or CD-RW disk is inserted into the DVD-ROM drive 190 orthe CD-R drive 200, the microcomputer 110 controls the drive I/F 180 toobtain information on the type of optical disk inserted into the DVD-ROMdrive 190 or the CD-R drive 200. Then the microcomputer 110 reads thedata of the CD, CD-R, or CD-RW disk, while the drive I/F 180 extractsdigital audio data from the reproduced data to perform DMA transfer ofthe data via a system bus 170 to a stream buffer for reproductionprovided on a memory 150.

The microcomputer 110 monitors the volume of the digital audio dataaccumulated in the stream buffer for reproduction provided on the memory150, and meanwhile transfers the digital audio data being accumulated toan MPEG2 decoder 210 as requested by the MPEG2 decoder 210.

The digital audio data inputted into the MPEG2 decoder 210 is notcompressed. Therefore, the MPEG2 decoder 210 detects the data andtransfers it to a D/A converter 220 as it is without performing anyprocessing. The data can also be outputted to the outside of theapparatus via a digital audio output terminal 265.

The D/A converter 220 outputs the inputted digital audio data afterconverting it to a two-channel analog signal, for example. An analogswitch 230, operated under the control of the microcomputer 110, selectsand outputs the output signal from the D/A converter 220. Then, theaudio signal is outputted via an audio output terminal 260 to a TV or astereo set connected with the DVD video player with a built-in CD-Rdrive 100, for example.

Next the recording operation of a CD, CD-R, or CD-RW by a CD-R drive 200will be described. Methods for recording onto the CD-R drive 200include, for example, a method in which an analog audio signal or adigital audio data is inputted directly from an audio input terminal250, and a method in which the data of a CD, CD-R, or CD-RW diskreproduced by a DVD-ROM drive 190 is recorded via a drive I/F 180, asystem bus 170, a stream buffer for reproduction provided on a memory150, and an MPEG2 decoder 210.

Next the operation for recording an MP3 file reproduced by a DVD-ROMdrive 190 onto a CD-R or CD-RW will be described with reference to FIGS.5, 6, and 7.

FIG. 5 shows the data composition of an MP3 file and the operation ofexpansion processing. In the figure, there are provided an MPEG2 decoder210, which is shown in FIG. 4, MPEG audio data 500 (elementary stream),an AAU 510 (Audio Access Unit), a header 520, a CRC 530 (CyclicRedundancy Check), audio data 540, ancillary data 550, and extendeddigital audio data 560.

Generally, in a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) wherein a largenumber of MP3 files are recorded, a PES (Packetized Elementary Stream)header that retains time information such as PTS is not attached, asshown in FIG. 5. Instead, the files are recorded, for example, in theform of MPEG audio data 500 comprising a plurality of AAUs 510, that is,in the form of an elementary stream.

Furthermore, each AAU 510 comprises a header 520, an optional CRC 530,audio data 540, and ancillary data 550, which is inserted so as tomaintain the AAU 510 at a fixed length.

A DVD-ROM drive 190 identifies the type of optical disk inserted, andsends the information to a microcomputer 110 via a drive I/F 180.

When the disk inserted into the DVD-ROM drive 190 is identified as aCD-ROM with MP3 files recorded, the DVD-ROM drive 190 reads the data ofthe CDROM disk, while the drive I/F 180 extracts MPEG audio data 500from the reproduced data to perform DMA transfer of the data via asystem bus 170 to a stream buffer for reproduction provided on a memory150.

The microcomputer 110 monitors the volume of the MPEG audio data 500accumulated in the stream buffer for reproduction provided on the memory150, and meanwhile transfers the MPEG audio data 500 being accumulatedto an MPEG2 decoder 210 as requested by the MPEG2 decoder 210.

The MPEG audio data 500 inputted into the MPEG2 decoder 210 is extendedfor each AAU 510 unit by an audio signal expanding circuit within theMPEG2 decoder 210 to be transferred to a D/A converter 220.

The D/A converter 220 outputs the inputted digital audio data 560 afterconverting it to a two-channel analog signal, for example. An analogswitch 230, operated under the control of the microcomputer 110, selectsand outputs the output signal from the D/A converter 220. Then, theaudio signal is outputted via an audio output terminal 260 to a TV or astereo set connected with the DVD video player with a built-in CD-Rdrive 100, for example.

In the meantime, the microcomputer 110 draws up the extended digitalaudio data 560 from the MPEG2 decoder 210 to a stream buffer forrecording provided on the memory 150 via the system bus 170.

FIG. 6 shows the processing for generating the information required forrecording onto a CD-R. In the figure, there are provided digital audiodata 560, which is shown in FIG. 5, a data counter 570, a musical piecetime counter 580, an absolute time counter 590, a Q channel 610, and asub-code 620.

FIG. 7 shows the processing for multiplexing the information requiredfor recording onto a CD-R. In FIG. 7, there are provided a CD-R drive200, which is shown in FIG. 4, digital audio data 560, which is shown inFIG. 5, a sub-code 620, which is shown in FIG. 6, a multiprocessingsection 640, a modulation processing circuit 650, and a CD-R disk 660.

A microcomputer 110 reads digital audio data 560 accumulated in a streambuffer for recording provided on a memory 150, while a data counter 570provided on the memory 150 counts the sample count of the digital audiodata 560. Accordingly, the microcomputer 110 increases the figures in amusical piece time counter 580 and an absolute time counter 590 providedon the memory 150.

The musical piece time counter 580 retains a musical piece number, anindex, minutes in the musical piece, seconds in the musical piece, and amusical piece frame number, and increases these figures in sync with theincrease in the count of the data counter 570. Also the absolute timecounter 590 retains absolute minutes, absolute seconds, and an absoluteframe number, and similarly increases these figures in sync with theincrease in the count of the data counter 570.

In the case of a CD-R disk, which is pre-formatted, the initial value ofthe absolute time counter 590 is automatically determined when therecording start position is determined.

In the meantime, the microcomputer 110 sequentially reads the figures inthe musical piece time counter 580 and the absolute time counter 590,and multiplexes the figures in the musical piece time counter 580 andthe absolute time counter 590 to create a Q channel 610 consisting of 96bits. Then the microcomputer 110 vertically arranges the Q channel 610including time information to form a sub-code 620 consisting of 98frames×8 bits in combination with other information.

Then the microcomputer 110 reads the formed sub-code 620 and the digitalaudio data 560 for six samples, which corresponds to the sub-code 620,from a stream buffer for recording, and multiplexes the sub-code 620 andthe digital audio data 560 by means of a multiprocessing section 640provided on the memory 150 to write them to a CD-R drive 200. The CD-Rdrive 200 modulates the data by means of a modulation processing circuit650 within the CD-R drive 200 and records the data onto a CD-R disk 660.

In the above case, the data counter 570 counts the sample count in theexpanded digital audio data 560; however, the number of AAUs 510 beforeexpansion processing may also be used.

This is because the sample count in the digital audio data 560 afterexpansion processing can be calculated from the bit rate and thesampling frequency included in the header 520 of an AAU 510. Themicrocomputer 110 detects the number of AAUs 510 to be expanded from anMPEG2 decoder 210, and sets the figures calculated from the number ofAAUs 510 for the self-running data counter 570.

The recording operation by a CD-R drive 200 of optical disks such asCDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs will be described in addition. Methods for input tothe CD-R drive 200 include, for example, a method in which an analogaudio signal or a digital audio signal is inputted directly from anaudio input terminal 250, and a method in which the data of a CD, CD-R,or CD-RW disk reproduced by a DVD-ROM drive 190 is inputted via a driveI/F 180, a system bus 170, a stream buffer for reproduction provided ona memory 150, and an MPEG2 decoder 210.

The above description has dealt with recording processes in which timeinformation is not included in the compressed data to be replicated.Next, the description below will deal with cases in which timeinformation is included in the recorded compressed data, such as a casein which the sound of a DVD video is expanded and recorded onto a CD-Ror CD-RW disk.

FIG. 8 shows the composition of the program stream of a DVD video. InFIG. 8, there are provided an MPEG2 program stream 670, a pack 680, apack header 690, a system header 700, a packet 710, a PES header 720,PES data 730, a start code 740, a packet length 750, a flag 760, aheader length 770, a PTS 780, and a DTS 790.

As shown in FIG. 8, an MPEG2 program stream 670 consists of a pluralityof packs 680, and each pack 680 consists of a pack header 690, a systemheader 700, and a plurality of packets 710. Each of the packets 710further consists of a PES header 720 and PES data 730, with a PTS 780and a DTS 790, which are time information, included in the PES header720. However, the presence or absence of a PTS 780 and a DTS 790 isdescribed in a flag 760 and when the packet 710 is an audio packet, onlya PTS 780 is included and a DTS 790 is not present.

First a microcomputer 110 controls a drive I/F 180 to obtain theinformation on the type of optical disk inserted into a DVD-ROM drive190. Then, if the optical disk inserted into the DVD-ROM drive 190 isidentified as a DVD video disk, mutual certification between the DVD-ROMdrive 190 and the DVD video disk is performed to check for validity.

Then the microcomputer 110 reads the data of the DVD video disk from theDVD-ROM drive 190 while controlling the drive I/F 180. In the meantime,the drive I/F 180 extracts the MPEG2 program stream 670 of the DVD videofrom the reproduced data, and performs DMA transfer of the programstream via a system bus 170 to a stream buffer for reproduction providedon a memory 150.

The microcomputer 110 monitors the volume of the program streamaccumulated in the stream buffer for reproduction provided on the memory150, and meanwhile transfers the MPEG2 program stream 670 beingaccumulated to an MPEG2 decoder 210 as requested by the MPEG2 decoder210.

The MPEG2 decoder 210 analyzes the header information of the inputtedMPEG2 program stream 670 as well as performing decoding, and extractsthe compressed digital video data and digital audio data to transferthem to a video signal expanding circuit and an audio signal expandingcircuit within the MPEG2 decoder 210.

Furthermore, the microcomputer 110 draws up the expanded digital audiodata 560 to a stream buffer for recording provided on the memory 150 viathe system bus 170. In the meantime, the microcomputer 110 checks theflag 760 to detect a PTS 780, which is then drawn up simultaneously withthe digital audio data 560 and put in a buffer provided for PTS 780 onthe memory 150.

The microcomputer 110 calculates the figures to be set for a datacounter 570, based on the PTS 780 accumulated in the buffer for PTS 780provided on the memory 150. Also, the figures are interpolated by usingthe number of AAUs 510 contained in PES data 730, and are set in thedata counter 570. In sync with the self-running data counter 570, themicrocomputer 110 increases the figures in a musical piece time counter580 and an absolute time counter 590 provided on the memory 150.

Next, the microcomputer 110 sequentially reads the figures in themusical piece time counter 580 and the absolute time counter 590, andmultiplexes the figures in the musical piece time counter 580 and theabsolute time counter 590 to create a Q channel 610 consisting of 96bits. Then the microcomputer 110 vertically arranges the Q channel 610including time information to form a sub-code 620 consisting of 98frames×8 bits in combination with other information.

Then the microcomputer 110 reads the formed sub-code 620 and the digitalaudio data 560 for six samples, which corresponds to the sub-code 620,from the stream buffer for recording, and multiplexes the sub-code 620and the digital audio data 560 by means of a multiprocessing section 640provided on the memory 150 to write them to a CD-R drive 200 via thedrive I/F 180. The CD-R drive 200 modulates the data by means of amodulation processing circuit 650 within the CD-R drive 200 and recordsthe data onto a CD-R disk 660.

In the embodiment described above, a CD-R is used as an example of arecording medium onto which to record data. However, the embodiment canalso be realized by using other recording media, such as a DVD-RAM(Digital Versatile Disk Random Access Memory), a DVD-R (DigitalVersatile Disk Recordable), a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile DiscReWritable), a hard disk, or a flash memory.

Examples of the drive I/F 180 described in the present embodimentinclude an ATAPI (AT Attachment with Packet Interface), a SCSI (SmallComputer System Interface), a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and IEEE1394.

In the embodiment described above, a DVD-ROM drive is used forreproduction and a CD-R drive is used for recording by way of example.However, a DVD-RAM drive, a DVD-R drive, a DVD-RW drive, a hard disk, ora flash memory, for example, can also be used for reproduction.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 described a case in which a CD-R drivefor recording and a digital audio output terminal 265 are provided.However, it is possible to configure a DVD video player with a built-inCD-R drive which does not have a digital audio output terminal 265, or aDVD video player which does not have a CD-R drive for recording but hasonly a digital audio output terminal 265 to perform recording outside ofthe apparatus.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 makes it possible to provide a means forexpanding compressed audio information such as the sound of a DVD video,the sound of a video CD, or an MP3 file and recording the informationonto a CD-R without compressing it, and also a method for generatingtime information necessary for CD-R reproduction. Therefore, the presentembodiment can be configured as a DVD video player with a built-in CD-Rdrive which makes it possible not only to replicate CDs, as aconventional CD recorder does, but also to replicate audio informationfrom a plurality of types of media onto which compressed data isrecorded.

Moreover, if a silent section lasting for more than a given period oftime is present in a single musical piece, the recording means of anormal CD-R drive automatically detects the silent section and recordsit as another musical piece. A DVD video player with a built-in CD-Rdrive according to the present invention, however, allows a singlemusical piece to be recorded as a single musical piece even if a silentsection lasting for more than a given period of time is present in thesingle musical piece, for example.

According to the present invention, compressed audio information such asthe sound of a DVD video, the sound of a video CD, or an MP3 file can beexpanded and recorded (replicated) onto a CD-R or the like withoutcompressing it.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital information processing apparatuscomprising: an information reproducing means for reproducing compressedinformation from a recording medium; an information expansion processingmeans for expanding compressed information inputted from saidinformation reproducing means; a time information extracting means forextracting first time information included in said compressedinformation; a time information generating means for generating secondtime information based on the first time information inputted from saidtime information extracting means and based on the sample volume of theinformation expanded by said information expansion processing means; aninformation multiprocessing means for multiplexing the informationexpanded by said information expansion processing means and the secondtime information generated by said time information generating means;and an information output means for outputting the informationmultiplexed by said information multiprocessing means to the outside ofthe present apparatus.
 2. A digital information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising an information recording meansfor recording the information multiplexed by said informationmultiprocessing means onto a recording medium other than said recordingmedium.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information output meansis an information recording means for recording the informationmultiplexed by said information multiprocessing means onto a recordingmedium other than said recording medium.
 4. A digital informationprocessing apparatus comprising: an information reproducing means forreproducing compressed information from a recording medium; aninformation expansion processing means for expanding compressedinformation inputted from said information reproducing means; a timeinformation generating means for generating time information; aninformation multiprocessing means for multiplexing the informationexpanded by said information expansion processing means and the timeinformation generated by said time information generating means; and aninformation output means for outputting the information multiplexed bysaid information multiprocessing means to the outside of the presentapparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the time informationgenerating means produces the time information by using the samplevolume of the information expanded by said information expansionprocessing means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further includinginformation recording means for recording the information multiplexed bysaid information multiprocessing means onto a recording medium otherthan said recording medium.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the timeinformation generating means produces the time information by using theinformation-decoding unit volume of the compressed informationreproduced by said information reproducing means.
 8. A digitalinformation processing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein theinformation output means for outputting is an information recordingmeans for recording the multiplexed information inputted from saidinformation multiprocessing means onto a recording medium other thansaid recording medium.
 9. A digital information processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, further comprising an information recording meansfor recording the multiplexed information inputted from said informationmultiprocessing means onto a recording medium other than said recordingmedium.
 10. A digital information processing method comprising the stepsof: reproducing compressed information from a recording medium;expanding said reproduced compressed information to produce expandedinformation comprising first timing information and a sample volume;generating time information based on said first timing information andon said sample volume; multiplexing said expanded information and saidtime information to produce multiplexed information; and recording saidmultiplexed information onto a recording medium other than saidrecording medium, or outputting said multiplexed information, or both.11. The method of claim 10 wherein generating time information includesextracting first time information included in said compressedinformation and generating second time information by using said firsttime information and the sample volume of said expanded information;wherein multiplexing is a step of multiplexing said expanded informationand said second time information.
 12. The method of claim 10 whereingenerating time information is a step of generating time information byusing the sample volume of said expanded information.
 13. The method ofclaim 10 wherein generating time information is a step of generatingtime information by using the information-decoding unit volume of saidreproduced compressed information.